willis



(No Model.)

J. M. WILLIS.

PAPER FILE.

Patented Sept. 23,

mm, m N M W A TTOHNE Y S UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. WILLIS, OF NEXV YORK, Y.

PAPER-Fl LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,071, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed April14, 1890. Serial No. 347,845. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. WVILLIs, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paper-Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. My invention relates to an improvement in paper-files, and has for its object to provide a file of simple and durable construction in which all the parts are detachable one from the other and in which all of the parts may be renewed when occasion may demand.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a file capable of being expanded or contracted to envelop a large or a small bundle of papers, and also capable of expeditious and convenient manipulation to render the papers enveloped accessible.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the file that a briefing-surface will be obtained and the inclosed papers protected against chafing at their side edges.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of referenoe indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective "View of a file laid out to receive the package. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the file represented as inclosing the package; and Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the file, the package being removed therefrom.

The file consists, primarily, of a rigid front and back A and B, a flexible body-band or apron O, and a take-up D. The front and back A and B are preferably alike in construction, and consist, ordinarily, of two spaced face plates or boards 10 and 11, rectangular in general contour and of equal size, which plates are held a sufiicient distance apart by spacing-strips 12, located at their ends to provide for an opening 13 of any sufiicient depth and of a length to admit of the free passage of the apron O.

The front and back sections A andB of the file may be made of any suitable material,

such as metal, hard rubber, celluloid, or their equivalents; but wood is preferred.

The band 0 maybe of any desired length and of a width somewhat less than the length of the opening 13 in the front and back sections. The band is made of flexible material such as canvas, for instance-and at one end a deep hem 14 is formed, which hem conceals an inserted flat plate 15, of metal, or a strip of wood, and preferably upon or near the seamline of the hem, centrally upon the outer face of the band, a ring 16 or its equivalent is attached.

Any desired form of take-up may be used in connection with the band. The preferred form, however, is illustrated, and consists of a rectangular plate 17, of greater length than the width of the body-band and provided with a longitudinal slot 18, through which the bodyband is capable of passing.

In operation the body-band C is passed through the back section B and laid with the inner face uppermost upon any convenient support, and the said back is moved away from the hem 14 a sufficient distance to permit of the bundle of papers to be filed being placed between the hem and the .back. The bundle of papers 19 for filing having been properly made up, the back is brought to a vertical position at one side of the bundle and the inclosed plate 15 to a similar position at the opposite side. The inclosed plate 15 while in this position is introduced into the opening 13 of the front section A at its under side, and the free end of the body-band is thereupon passed through the slot in the take-up D. This having been accomplished, the major portion of the surplus of the band is folded over upon the upper face of the bundle and the remainder of the surplus is wound upon the take-up until when the said take-up is introduced into the opening of the front section at the upper side of the latter the bundle will be tightly enveloped in the said body-band. The contents of the bundle may be briefed upon the front section and the file stood either upon its side or end, preferably the latter. If it is desired to examine the contents of the file, the hemmed end, or that end having the ring attached, is placed uppermost, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the contents of the file may be readily rendered visible, as when the inclosed plate 15 is Withdrawn from the front section (the ring being employed in this operation) the front and back will fall down, and any paper may be conveniently extracted or another introduced into the file. The take-up is not removed from the front section unless it is desired to increase or to decrease the bulk of the file.

It is evident from the foregoing description that each and every part of the file may be disconnected and that any part may be renewed at pleasure, and, further, that as the band or apron entirely incloses or envelops the package the side edges of the said package are prevented from being worn or chafed by contact with the partitions of a pigeonhole or an adjacent file.

Having thus described my in vention, I claim as new and desire to seen re by Letters Patent- I. In a file for papers, the combination, with front and back sections consisting of a plate or board provided With an opening extending transversely through from side to side, of a body-band or apron adapted to be passed through the openings of the front and back sections and a take-up device also attached to the body-band or apron, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a paper-file, the combination, with front and back sections consisting of a plate or board provided with a transverse slot or opening extending through from side to side,

of a flexible body-band or apron adapted to be passed through the opening of one of the said sections and provided With rigid extremities adapted to enter the opening of the other section, substantially as shown and described. 40

3. In a file for papers, the combination, with front and back rigid sections, each consisting of a plate or board provided with a slot or opening extending through from side to side, of a flexible body-band or apron adapted to be passed through one of the sections and provided at one end withan attached rigid plate capable of entering one side of the other section, and a detachable take-up attached to the opposite end of the body-band and capable of being introduced into the same section as the attached rigid plate of the apron, but at the opposite side of said section, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a file for papers, the combination, with rigid front and back sections consisting of a plate or board having a transverse opening therein extending through from side to side,

of a flexible bodyband or apron provided at one end with an attached rigid plate and a take-up consisting of a plate slotted to receive the body-band and adapted for location thereon at or near the end opposite that having the rigid plate attached,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN M. \VILLIS.

\Yitnesses.

NORMAN ANDREWS, J12, WILLIAM RYAN. 

